Wordless Wednesday- No more pictures, MOM!

Ruby Moon Wool Wash Bar review

I know I am very behind on this, please forgive me as this holiday season is a hectic one.  I contacted Lyndsay, the owner of Ruby Moon, about adding her samples of wool wash bar to my wool orders.  She responded right away and sent me the different sizes and prices.  When the package arrived my mail smelled like heaven!  I immediately took out my sample bar and went searching for woolies in need of a little love.
Here is the description on her website:

"Our wool wash bars are loaded with rich lanolin to get  your wool super leak proof.  Handmade of all natural local goats milk soap, this wool bar is great for  scrubbing out stains, getting your wool super clean and fresh, and keeping your baby dry!  So gentle on your baby and your woolies!  Our Ruby Moon Wool Wash is lightly scented and  has almost double the lanolin compared to other brands- this way your little one and your lap are nice and dry!"

I could tell the difference right away with having the double lanolin!  My little mans pants have gone longer in between washings, which to me is amazing.  I always dreaded getting my little man up in the morning to find it time to lanolize his night pants again.  (for those who haven't experienced this, it is when the sheets aren't dry but the diaper isn't soaked.  And then they smell of pee even after sitting out.)  I haven't had that problem since using her bar, and the sample bar has lasted awhile with me lanolizing every 2-3 weeks! she says her bars sell out fast, so you need to contact her directly to find out if she has any in stock before you order. 

I have 9 bars available to the next 9 wool orders...so hurry before these treasures are gone!

3 AM Naturals review

If you haven't heard yet, you will quickly learn that I have a huge wool fetish when it comes to diapering!  When I started wool I used left over lanolin cream from breastfeeding for cleaning but when it comes to really getting them clean it would take awhile.
So when I heard that Audrey from 3AM cloth diapers started making her own wool bars I had to try them!  They are so simple to use, even for those who are still hesitant on using wool.  You fill your bathroom sink with cool water, dip in the wool, turn it inside out and scrub.  If you have any deep dirt spots on the front, feel free to give them a little rubbing as well.  Them place them back in the water to sit for 10-15 minutes, drain the sink and towel dry your wool.

The scents are wonderful and light so that if you have a sensitive baby like mine it doesn't bother them.
The lanolin is already in them so it is a one step washing and lonolizing that will baby your hands while it babies your favorite woolies!
The bars also come with these cute wet bags so you can easily store your bar away from wondering hands.

I have 10 samples for the first 10 woolie orders starting the 1st of November!  Hurry and get yours before they are gone.  I've also been told some of the samples have discount codes inside them...I haven't checked to see which ones so it will be a mystery to me as well on who gets them!

Princess Supplies Review

My daughter standing next to it to show scale. 

I've known Lynnel for awhile now and she makes the cutest hair bows.  One of the things she makes are tutu bow holders...which with my daughter is turning out to be a necessity!  So I had to order one and try it out.  She was wonderful to work with and customized a design to fit my needs.

There are loops on the tutu section to hang the many headbands, which are easy for her to get in and out, but not so easy her 1 year old brother can get them out (which is awesome!)  The top has ribbon wrapped to allow for many styles of hair clips to hang so that all can be seen during decision time. 

She also makes them with the tutu area being just for the hair clips and the top plain, and can make them in any color combination you desire! 

Check her out on facebook: Princess-Supplies

*I was not paid for this review nor did I receive anything for free.  This review is my complete unbiased opinion. 

Another Day, another birthday!

 Happy Birthday Braylon!  

You are the light of my life. 

 

Memories of my sweet little bird

  Words can't express how much I love you Haley Bird.  I'm so proud of you!

Happy 4th birthday my little bird!

Lil Man... I mean Big Man!

Braylon is growing up so fast, and I'm not sure I'm ready for him to.  This past weekend he stood by himself, walked with mommies or daddies help, and weened himself. That's not even mentioning his sudden desire to climb everything he sees! 

He is much more fast paced than Haley was at this age.  She has always been an active child, but loves to sit down and be cuddled.  Braylon doesn't have time to cuddle anymore because there is something that he always needs to do, and most of the time it is getting into something he shouldn't. 

Time to Exhale and let go (of stuff that is)

We are starting the count down to the busy season.  Haley's birthday, Braylon's birthday, parents coming into town, sunday school class supper club, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Just call us the party house!

However....my house is no where near ready to be seen by the public, and we have way to much stuff and not enough space.  Our main problem, although I don't think we would ever admit it in public is that we are hoarders.  Not hardcore like the lady who appeared on Oprah, but we have our fair share of things that we don't need, but think one day we might.  For instance my current collection lone earrings..I don't even wear earrings that often because my ears are very sensative, although I feel I need to hold onto the lonely ones without mates in hopes one day I will find them.

We also have a collection of college textbooks and papers.  It's been how long now since we entered the real world...?  I don't think our current or future employers will be wanting to know what I thought about early American cave paintings and how my professor swore up and down that something was a dog when it clearly was a cat.

So simplify we must.  I do warn you, that if you walk into my house or talk to me anytime before  Haley's birthday party and I look a little frazzled the chances are that I might be losing the battle to let go.  I wish I had the courage to show some before pictures...but I don't want to scare you.

My green thumb might not be so green

This is the first year I caved in and planted a vegetable garden.  I bought a seedling starter pack with soil pellets, and tons of seeds.  After one week I had so many starters I actually gave some away and had huge hopes of Ratatouille for dinner every night. 

I do blame most of my gardens problems with the extreme heat we have had this summer, but I'm sure that if I would have planted sooner it might have helped.  Green beans are on the left with squash in the middle and peas on the right, with tomatos mixed in.  Also had another planter with onions, carrots and more squash. 

Three months later only a handful of green beans and peas, about 10 squash (a few lost to animals), 1 tomato that had a huge animal bite taken out before it was even red, 3 pinky (yes that small) sized carrots and the onions died before they were fully grown.

Even with all of the trouble this year I still want to try again, although this time I won't plant to many squash, they completely took over everything! The squash is now getting run out by a pumpkin plant that grew from a rotten pumpkin I was too lazy to pick up.  lol

What are your favorite things to grow?  Any tips for a better garden for next year?

Here goes nothing

With birthdays approaching fast I realize how quickly time is flying, so I have decided to start writing down our family's journey.  Braylon will be 1 in October, Haley will be 4 in September and we have been in Charlotte now for 5 years!
A little more about me, I thought I would always live in Indiana near my family, but reality set in when Bret started searching for teaching jobs and the choices were Las Vegas, Florida or North Carolina.  After we moved here we found out we were pregnant and had to start preparing to raise our children away from the family circle.  We really cherish the time we get to visit Indiana, or when we get to play host for the family. 
Shortly after Haley turned 3, Braylon decided to make his appearance, keeping both of us girls on our toes.  We made a lot of changes when little B was born and decided to try our hand at cloth diapering and fell in love. 
This love has also lead me to my new adventure as a Work at Home Mom.... White Elephants.  This blog will be a little about our adventures as a family and a little about our adventures of becoming "crunchy"